The trawlers are docked and thecrew busy mending nets, while contractors are installing huge metal weights totie boats, along the new jetty expansion completed around six months ago.Between the fishing hustle and bustle brews a storm between the villagers ofVelim and the current government over land acquisition of 30,000 sq metres ofland.
“The proposal for acquisition clearlystates that the land is acquired for a fish meal plant. The SGPDA market atMargao is already a menace with boxes, garbage and the rotting fish stink. Wedon’t want our village to be in the same mess, the existing migrant problembecause of Cutbona fishing jetty itself is a burden to the village. Land hasbeen acquired in the past for the jetty and its expansion. That’s it, no moreacquisition is required,” asserted Velim Consumer and Civic Forum Convenor,Ramona Almeida
The Chief Minister, in his lastmeeting with Velim residents, on September 9 had assured them that he will letthe date lapse for land acquisition and setup a committee headed by himself.The final date for land acquisition, incidentally, is September 29. The futureof this Communidade, however, still remains in doubt.
The consultant being West BengalFisheries Committee clearly indicates that this land acquisition of 30,000Communidade land is for a government health center, parking area for theexisting jetty where over trucks come to collect fish, a shaded net mendingshelter for the workers to work and a net storage center besides a road to twoexisting hotels in Cutbona. Land acquisition is purely to uplift the life ofthe workers working in Cutbona by providing them basic amenities, statedFisheries Minister Avertano Furtado who has been facing the ire as he has beenpushing to complete the land acquisition and jetty expansion.
Local MLA Benjamin D’Silvaexplained that the entire opposition from certain villagers is political in natureand to safeguard their own interest and land also maybe. “I am in favour ofjetty expansion and not a fish meal plan. But all these projects of jettyexpansion and providing basic amenities should not be blocked just because ofone statement of Joaquim Alemao. The proposal for expansion has no mention of afish meal plant.” Benjamin asserted that opposition to the land acquisition bythe villagers is politically motivted and has no basis to a certain level.
Velim local Immelda Barrospointed out that hundreds of migrants working in the trawler business live inCutbona, Ambelim, Velim and neighbouring villages and are involved in thefishing business. “These migrants erect a new structure every day, maybe arestaurant, shop or makeshift room besides the jetty. All this needs to bechecked while the government should provide assistance to these workers whobring fish to many a Goan plate.
While former MLA and WaterResources Minister Phillip Neri Rodrigues is unwilling to comment on the landacquisition and the plans as why his government from 2007 untill 2011 wanted toacquire this land, maintains that the proposal of the fisheries departmentshould be checked as to what they have put on record for the acquisition. JoaquimAlemao in the mean while, is still pushing for the jetty expansion. He says, “Whenthis government has failed to acquire the land and let it lapse, I don’t seeany reason as to why my statement from the past has to be brought up again andagain. I had great plans for the people of Cutbona, but the current governmenthas failed to implement anything from my plans. The fish meal plant is not theissue. The land acquisition is the issue, which should be completed followed bythe jetty expansion”. Joaquim Alemao’s decision for a fish meal plant atCuncolim has faced similar opposition while a few years aback a Marine FoodProcessing plant proposed by then Industries Minister Luizinho Faleiro innearby Betul, besides Cutbona has also faced critism and opposition from thelocals.
The uncertainty of development inCutbona continues.
